title: Seroprevalence of Toscana virus infection in Tunisia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of IgG antibodies against Toscana virus (TOSV) by an ELISA test and to determine the extent of its circulation in Tunisia.
  
  
  METHODS
  An indirect ELISA test was performed to detect anti-TOSV IgG. The results were compared to those of an indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey tested 494 healthy people from various regions of Tunisia by ELISA for anti-TOSV IgG; 47 people (9.5%) were found to be positive. Seroprevalence varied by bioclimatic region and gender. Two hundred and twelve samples, randomly chosen from the same selected population and tested with ELISA, were retested using an IFA for IgG antibodies. An 85% concordance between the IFA and ELISA was obtained (kappa=0.650).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These serological data confirm the circulation of TOSV in different bioclimatic zones in Tunisia where the vector sand flies are found. The detection of IgG against TOSV suggests that the diagnosis of TOSV infection is often neglected, as this virus often causes asymptomatic infections, with only a few patients developing severe illnesses involving neurological manifestations.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Epidémiologie et Microbiologie Vétérinaire, Service d'Entomologie Médicale, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, BP74, 1002 Tunis-Bélvédère, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ons
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fezaa
authors.forename: Olfa
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bahri
authors.forename: Nissaf Ben
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Alaya Bouafif
authors.forename: Henda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Triki
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouattour
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002044:Bunyaviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D062306:Geography, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D029301:Sandfly fever Naples virus / Q000276:immunology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: ELISA; IFA; Phlebotomus; Toscana virus; Tunisia